Pilot crashed in second attempt at air show stunt

FAIRFIELD, Calif. (AP) — Federal investigators say the pilot of a vintage biplane who died at a Northern California air show was making his second attempt at an upside-down stunt 20 feet off the ground when he crashed.

The pilot identified as 77-year-old Eddie Andreini had a knife attached to his plane and was trying to cut a ribbon on pole held by a ground crew.

The findings are included in a preliminary National Transportation Safety Board report released Monday about the May 4 crash at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield.

The NTSB says the plane was too high during the first attempt to cut the ribbon. It crashed before reaching the ribbon during the second attempt, catching fire and coming to a stop a few hundred feet beyond the crew members.